MOSCOW, July 2 (Sputnik) – Russia’s celebration of the national team’s win over Spain in the FIFA World Cup round of 16 is comparable to the celebration of the World War II victory, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday.

On Sunday, hosts Russia knocked 2010 World Cup winners Spain out of this summer’s tournament to reach the quarter-finals for the first time since the break-up of the Soviet Union in 1991.

“Enthusiastic and epic assessments of yesterday’s triumph are understandable from the emotional point of view. If you look at the streets of many Russian cities, including Moscow… in many respects it was comparable to footage from May 9, 1945 [when Russia celebrated the World War II victory], with the exception of the fireworks,” Peskov told journalists.

He added that “sport unites, not separates” people.

“It was a fair game, and the one who is currently stronger wins in the fair game,” Peskov said.

Russia will next face Croatia in the last eight match, which will played in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on Saturday.

The 2018 FIFA World Cup kicked off on June 14 and will continue until July 15, with the matches being played in 11 cities across Russia.